In Cardiff 2002, the cast of the Fast Show started one of their shows of their final tour before splitting up. This show is the highlights of that tour condensed to 60 minutes. With all the catch-phrases and characters, we also get a look behind the scenes during costume changes, on the bus and having conversations on the pier.
I was a big fan of the Fast Show (who wasn't?) so I was glad to see this show on TV. I'm not sure if it went to video first or if it is to be released in a longer version on video later, but never mind. I won't go into detail on the individual sketches, suffice to say they are just what you expect them to be, with all the usual characters. Some characters have their time really cut back or don't make an appearance at all, but most do. Characters who usually were in very short sketches (`I'll get my coat') are out and others are cut to hit the 60 minute running time of the tv show.
The material is OK but is really only saved by the characters - the tv show is much better and will be what wins fans - not this. This tour was for die-hard fans and it shows a little bit - the cast are enjoying themselves, they aren't having to really work that hard. Usually the crowd are laughing when a character comes on stage and is recognised for the first time. While this is to be expected it does make it a less funny show for the non-die hard crowd, I still wanted the gags to be good rather than there being too much playing off past jokes in the audiences' memory. The end result is that much of the material is average and it's the sight of the characters again that makes it funny.
The show uses backstage cameras to add to the tour. Mostly these are not that funny but do add some interest to the piece without using up too much of the running time. What doesn't work as well is the conversational pieces on the bus or on the pier. These are put forward as amusing chats but they have been clearly scripted and the cast don't convince that they are naturally chatting. I would rather have had more sketches from the tour - but there is one good line where they are talking of the future and say `there's always BBC3, BBC3 will have anyone!'
Overall the fact that the tour and this show trades more off characters than top class material means that it is more for established fans than those with a passing appreciation of the show. The material is not the best they've ever done and often falls into swearing or crudity to make the audience laugh. Only a musical spoof with Ted and Ralph really shows signs of invention and imagination. But fans will still love this.
